Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Texas A&M University-Kingsville Foundation
October 21, 2022 (Kingsville, TX) – The Texas A&M University-Kingsville Foundation inducted its newest members into The Javelina Society during the President’s Brunch at Texas A&M University-Kingsville on the morning of Oct. 15. As a part of Javelina Homecoming Week, this event honors donors of the university who have named the university in their will or estate plans.
This year’s newest Javelina Society inductee, Fred Steves ’70, has a dedicated history of support for Javelina students. In 2018, he and his wife, Peggy, invited and graciously hosted the Javelina Golf team for a round of golf at their home course in Floresville, Texas, followed by a lunch. What resulted was a wonderful relationship between the two that perseveres today.
When his wife passed away shortly after this visit, in April of 2018, Steves decided that a meaningful way to honor his wife’s legacy was by remaining steadfast in his support of the Javelina Golf team. Searching for how to truly make a difference in the lives and success of the student-athletes, Steves noticed the challenges faced by the team with on-campus facilities.
It was announced this month that Steves will donate the funds necessary to renovate an existing racquetball court in the Steinke Physical Education Center (SPEC) into a state-of-the-art, indoor training facility for the Javelina Golf team. The space will boast digital hitting bays with modern launch monitors, swing analysis software, netting, tee pads, practice putting green, lockers and furniture. “My desire is for our Javelina Golf team to play for championships,” Steves remarked. “If this facility can help the team reach that goal, I’m all in.”
Acknowledging the tremendous impact this donation will have on the Javelina Golf program, Executive Director of Athletics at Texas A&M-Kingsville, Steve Roach, commented, “Fred has a champions mindset. He has developed a great relationship with Coach [Stefanie] Maynard and our women’s golf student-athletes. Winners bet on winners and he’s betting that our team will play for championships. This donation will help us in that goal.”
Head Javelina Women’s Golf Coach Stefanie Maynard reflected these sentiments of appreciation, stating, “The team loves Mr. Steves, and we are grateful for his support. This facility has created excitement for us and will be an important tool for me when recruiting players. We cannot wait to get in and have Mr. Steves down for the ribbon cutting.”
Steves previously created an endowment at Texas A&M-Kingsville, bearing the name of both he and his beloved wife, intended to support students studying agriculture or education, Honors College students and Javelina women’s athletes. Steves’ generosity is a wonderful model of enjoying the benefits of interaction with students by giving now, while also using his estate to impact the lives of future Javelinas.